Torpedo interceptor



Feb. 16, 1943.. JQ HAUT 2,311,388

TORPEDO nwmcmwon I Filed 51. 5, 1941 e Sheets-Sheet 1 H H INVENTOR.

Feb. 16, 1943. J. HAUT TORPEDO INTERCEPTOR Filed Sept. 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTO R. 'a obfiat/7 J. HAUT TORPEDO INTERCEPIOR Filed Sept, 5, 1941 Feb. 16, 1943.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fl ll I N VENTOR. fcob. Houf Feb. 16, 1943. AUT 2,311,388

TORPEDO INTERCEPTOR Filed Sept. 5, 1941 e sheets-sh t s INVENTOR.

Jbcob hauf Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TORPEDO INTERCEPTOR Jacob Haut, Brooklyn, N. Y.

- Application September 5, 1941, Serial No. 409,638

12 Claims.

This invention relates to protective devices for ships of all descriptions, and more particularly to such devices which are adapted to intercept torpedoes fired from submarines or other vessels and thus prevent such torpedoes from striking its target and sinking same.

One object of the invention is the provision of a torpedo interceptor which comprises a plurality of non corrosive metallic buoyant network sections adapted to be suspended from a ship to entirely surround same at a suitable distance, the

various elements of said structure being so con- 1 nected as to provide a universally flexible structure which will flex when struck by a torpedo which may be readily and at any time disconnected and dropped from the ship by its crew without the use of any tools whatsoever, the said device remaining submerged in such a. position where it can be lifted out of the water and again suspended from the ship.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a torpedo interceptor of this nature which is provided with tracer buoys by which the depth of its submergence may be regulated and by which the interceptor may be located so that it may again be attached to the ship.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a gravity lock for such interceptors which will at all times maintain same in locked position against accidental displacement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the interceptor may be entirely sunk so as to prevent same from falling into the hands of an enemy when the ship is in danger of being captured.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein fully described and illustrated in the ac- Fig. 5).

companying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically definedand indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted'to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmental side view of a boat showing the application of my invention thereto; a

Fig. 2 is :a. fragmental top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation showing one network section in submerged position;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the screen or network section positioning units;

Fig. 5 is a side view thereof looking from the left of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view at an enlarged scale taken on line 6-6 Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-! Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a rear view looking in the direction of arrows 88 Fig. 7- 0f the gravity lock for securing said unit to the boat, and

Fig. 9 is a side view partially in sectionof one of the buoyant network or screen sections with its spacing arm connector rotated from its normal position. Y

Referring now to the drawings in detail I0 and. indicate a pair of spaced apart rails, a suitable number of pairs of such rails being secured to the hull of a ship l2 which is to be provided with my improved torpedo interceptor I3. Located between each pair of rails I 0- is a plate I4 having a pluralit of spaced apart cross bars I5 adapted to fit into and be supported by brackets IS on the rails III-I I. Floats I1 and I8 which are semi-circular in cross section are secured to the upper end of each of the said plates I4 ,by means of straps I9 to which there is secured a pair of wire loops 2!] for supporting a tracer buoy 2|. The buoy 2I may be secured to the device by means of a chain 22 whose ends are respectively afiixed to an eyelet 23 at the bottom of said buoy and to the plate I4 as at 24- (see The buoy carrying plates I4 may normally be locked in place between the rails Ill-l I by means of gravity locks 25, said locks each comprising a slide 26 secured to a vertically slidable rod 21 by means of a pin or screw 28 passing through the said rod and a pair of angle plates which are in turn secured to or carried by the slide 25. The said slide is operably mounted between a pair of spaced apart slideways 30 secured to the front of the plate l4, and has a pair of converging grooves 3I32 which slant downwardly. Coacting with the said grooves are a pair of rollers 3334 carried respectively on flat bars or bolts 35-36, which, when the plates 14 are in locked position extend into keepers 3l38' intermediate the ends of the rails Iii-l I.

The interceptor I3 is made up of units which include the mechanism above described as well as net sections 39. The said net sections 39 are each connected to a buoy-carrying plate l4 by means of flexible connections 41!, said connections including upper and lower telescopic arms 4| and 42 respectively pivotally mounted at 43 and 44 on a casing 45 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 46 supported in the upper and lower walls of a box-like structure 4'! secured to the lower end of the plate i4 and housing a shock absorber mechanism. The casing 45 has secured to the rear thereof a plurality of spaced apart strips 48, the outer ends of which impinge upon or against pivotally mounted vertical wall sections or strips 49 and 50 respectively of the said shock absorber mechanism. The wall strip 49 has an upper arm 5| and a lower arm 52 extending therefrom and respectively pivoted at 53 and 54 on the upper and lower walls of the box-like structure 41 (see Figs. 4-6 and 7). The wall strip 50 is provided with an upper arm 55 and a lower arm 56 respectively pivoted at 5'1 and 58 in the upper and lower walls aforementioned. The wall sections or strips 49 and 50 are under tension of coiled springs 59 in the interior of the box-like structure 41. The ends of the strips 48 which bear against the wall strips 49 and 50 are sprung away from the rear wall of the casing 45 by means of screws 60.

The arms 4| and 42- are identical in structure and each comprise a pivot 5! which carries intermediate its ends a T-piece 62 for the reception of a, tubular section 53. The said tubular section has secured thereto a rod 54 (see Fig. '7) the opposite end of which may be headed over as at 65 said head having a sliding fit in a second tubular section 66. An outer tube 67 is secured over the tube section on 63 and is telescopically arranged over the tube section 65, the said tube sections 63 and 68 being under the influence of a coiled spring 68 which normally pushes the said sections apart. The outer tubes 61' may be strengthened by a reinforcing structure 69. The outer end of each of the tube sections 66 is slotted to receive one half of a hinge member 10, the other half being secured to a connector H carrying upper and lower arms 12.

The connector H connects the telescopic arms 4| and 42 to one end of a net section 39 by means of tubular rod 13 which fits loosely in the forward ends of the arms 12. Also loosely or rotatably mounted on the said rod 13 are three hollow buoy members 14 which are circular in plan view and of double conical contour in side elevation. An inner central tube 15 forms a water tight joint between the pivot rod 13 and buoy member 14. The oppositeend of the netv section 39 is likewise supported on a rod- I3 which is in all respects similar to the rod 13 and carries three buoy members 14. It will be understood from the foregoing description, that the entire interceptor net and buoys connected thereto, may be folded upwardly upon the pivot points 43 and 44 against the side of the vessel, so as to prevent damage to the interceptor in a very rough sea.

Each screen section comprises a tubular rod 16 rotatably supported at each end in short nipples "secured to tubular sections 18 which at their free ends are slotted to receive one end of a hinge T9 the opposite end of the said hinge being secured to either the rod 13 or 1?; as the case may be. The rod l3 carries a second hinge 13* which is also connected to the next adjacent screen section 39. The tubular rod 16 is provided with loops or eyelets from which the net proper is suspended, the said net consisting of a plurality of links 8| connected by rings 82. The sides of the net sections are connected to the rods 13 and 13 by means of horizontally disposed springs 83, extending from collars B3 on the said rods and connected to short bifurcated links which are in turn connected to the rings 82. The entire screen is stabilized or normally maintained in vertical position by means of weights 84 secured to the bottom of the rods 13 and 13 In order to overcome any tendency of the tubes 16 to bend or arch, I have provided each of said tubes with a turnbuckle arrangement 85. It is to be understood that although the net is shown as extending above the water line, it may, if desirable, be entirely therebelow, as the top rail 75 may be placed between any two of the buoy members 14.

In applying my interceptor to a boat, a pair of buoy carrying plates l4 may first be locked in place and the screen sections between them may then be assembled and connected together. Normally the screen is sufficiently above and be low the water line so that no torpedo can pass over or under same.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a torpedo interceptor that due to its construction is flexible in every possible direction and will conform to every action of the sea as well as to any shock when struck by a torpedo. The flexibility of the device is obtained because of the pivotal movement of the arm carrying casing 45 about its vertical pivot, also because of the cushioning or shock absorbing action of the springs 59 connected therewith and the resilient telescopic arrangement of the screen spacing arms 4| and 42, together with the pivotal and hinge connection between the screen sections, and the rotatability of the horizontalscreen tubes 16.

It will further be seen that due to the shape of the buoy members 14 and the method of mounting same on the rods'13 and 13 they ofier little or no resistanceto the water and consequently do not impede the speed of the boat. Furthermore due to the shape and method of mounting of the said buoy members 14 in'most' cases when struck by a torpedo will c'ausesuch torpedo to be deflected therefrom. Likewise any torpedo striking the screen will be enmeshed therein and will gradually fill up with water and sink.

It will also be seen that due to the locking device used the buoy carrying plates will normally be firmly held in place when the interceptor is attached to a boat.

The interceptormay be quickly and easily removed-fromthe boatbefore entering a harbor or pier by members 'of the crew pulling upon the respective cross bars 86 secured to the vertical rods 21. The aforegoing action will carry the lock plates 26 upwardly causing the locking bars 35 and 36 to become disengaged from the keepers 31 and 38 thus freeing the plates [4 from the rails l and H and enabling the buoy carrying plates to be dropped into the water and be partly submerged therein. When thus dropped the tracer buoys 2| will rise out of its supports 20, the chains 22 to which the said buoys are secured limiting the amount of submergence of the interceptor. It will further be understood that the buoys I8 and M will also aid in supporting the interceptor in the water when disengaged from the boat. After the cargo is discharged and the boat is again ready to sail, the interceptor is lifted out of the water by suitable hooks engaging hook eyes 81 on the tracer buoys 2 I. In order to keep the interceptor from falling into the hands of the enemy weights 86 which normally hang alongside of the various interceptor units may be snapped on the hook eyes 8? when dropping the interceptor into the water.

With regard to the flexible connection generally indicated by the numeral 48 it will be seen that each of the pivoted wall sections 49 and 50 is pressed against a fixed stop plate S, this arrangement normally maintains the arms 41 and 42 at right angles to the boat, and actuates the springs 59 on one side only for resistance when the arms are pushed in one direction and actuates the springs on the other side when the arms are moved in the opposite direction.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An interceptor for protecting ships from being struck by torpedoes, said interceptor comprising metallic network sections pivotally connected to each other, buoys for supporting said network sections in the water, means for suspending the said network sections and buoys from the ship in spaced relation thereto, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of spaced apart rails secured to the ship hull, a plate supported between each pair of said rails, a shock absorber mechanism carried by the plate, a pivotally mounted casing in operative engagement withv the shock absorber mechanism, a contractible and expansible arm pivotally mounted on the casing at one end and hingedly connected at the opposite end thereof to a network section, and instrumentalities for releasably and readily removably locking the said suspension means in place on the ship hull.

2. An interceptor for protecting ships from being struck by torpedoes, said interceptor comprising metallic network sections pivotally connected to each other, buoys for supporting said.

network sections in the water, means for suspending the said network sections and buoys from the, ship in spaced relation thereto, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of spaced apart rails secured to the ship hull, a plate supported between each pair of said rails, a box-like structure carried by the plate, a pair of spring pressed spaced apart pivotally mounted wall sections one at each frontal side edge of the boxlike structure, a pivotally mounted casing in operative engagement with the said wall sections, a pair of spaced apart contraotible and expan sible arms, one end of each arm being pivotally mounted on the casing and the opposite end hingedly connected to the network section, and

movably locking the said suspension means in place on the ship hull. i

3. An interceptor for protecting ships from being struck by torpedoes, said interceptor com-- prising metallic network sections pivotally connected to each other, buoys for supporting said network sections in the water, means for suspending the said network sections and buoys from the ship in spaced relation thereto, the sus-'- pension means for each network section including a pair of spaced apart rails secured to the ship hull, a plate supported between said rails,

resiliently and pivotally mounted arms carried network sections in the water, means for .sus-' pending the said network sections and buoys from the ship in spaced relation thereto, the suspension means for each network section includ ing a pair of spaced apart rails secured to the ship hull, a plate supported between said rails, resiliently and pivotally mounted arms carried by said plate the free end of said arms being connected to the network section, and instrumentalities for releasably and readily removably locking the said suspension means in place on the ship hull, said instrumentalities including a pair of spaced slideways, a slide in said slideways, a pair of grooves in the slide, said grooves converging downwardly towards each other, a roller carrying bar in operative engagement with each groove for normally locking the plate to therails and a slidable rod secured to the slide for unlocking the said plate from the rails.

5. A submersible torpedo interceptor adapted to be suspended and readily removed from the hull of a ship for submersion, said interceptor comprising sections of buoy carrying metallic network sections pivotally secured to each other,

pairs of rails adapted to be secured to the hull of the ship, plates adapted to be removably supported between each pair of rails, a pair of stationarybuoys carried at the upper end of the plate, a

third buoy movably connected to the plate, yieldable and pivotally mounted means for suspending the network sections from the lower end of the said plates in radially spaced relation thereto, means for normally locking the said plate to the rails, and means for readily unlocking said plate so that the same may be removed from'the rails for submersion.

6. A submersible torpedo interceptor adapted to be suspended and readily removed from the hull of a ship for submersion, said interceptor comprising sections of buoy carrying metallic network sections pivotally secured to each other, pairs of rails adapted to be secured to the hull of the ship, plates adapted. to be removably supported between each pair of rails, a pair of stationary buoys carried at the upper end of the plate, a third buoy movably connected to the plate, yieldable and pivotally mounted means for suspending the network sections from the lower end of the said plates in radially spaced relation thereto, a gravity lock slidably mounted on the plate, and means secured to said lock for sliding same into unlocked position so that the instrumentalities for releasably and readily r'e-i plate and the elements carried thereby may be removed from the ship for submersion.

'7. In a device of the nature described, a plurality of metallic buoyant networksections, each section comprising a pair of end members, a horizontal rod rotatably mounted in said end mem.-. bers, a hinge carried at the; freeend of each of the said end members, a vertical rod passing freely through the said hinges of adjacent network sections, rows of vertical and horizontallinks pivotally connected to each other, the vertical rows of links being suspended from the horizontal rod, loosely mounted collars on the vertical rods, coiled springs connecting the horizontal rows of links to the said collars, and a plurality of buoy members on the vertical rods.

8. In a device of the nature described, a plurality of metallic buoyant network sections, each section comprising a pair of end members, a horizontal rod rotatably mounted in said end memhere, a hinge carried at the free end of each of the said end members, a vertical rodpassing freely through the said hinges ofadjacent network sections, rows, of vertical and horizontal. links pivotally connected; to each other, the vertical rows of links being suspended from thehorizontal rod, loosely mounted collars on thevertical rods, coiled springs connecting the-horizontal rows of links tothe-said collars, a plurality of buoy members on the vertical rods, the said vertical rods extending a considerable distance below the bottom row of links, and a weight at the ends of the said rods for the purpose specified.

9. An interceptor for protecting ships frombeing struck by torpedoes, said interceptor com-- prising metallic network sections pivotally connected to each other, buoys for; supporting said: network sections in the water, means for sus pending the said network sections andbuoys from! the ship in spaced, relation thereto, instrumentalities for releasably and readily-removably. locking the said suspension means in place on the ship hull; each network section comprising vertical rods upon which the buoys are rotatably' mounted, hinges carried at the top of said rods, an end member connected to'each hinge, a horizontal rod rotatably mounted in the said end; members, and pivotally connected horizontal and;- vertical rows of linksconnected to the horizontal: and vertical rods.

10. An interceptor for protecting ships from. being struck bytorpedoes, said interceptor com-- prising metallic network sections pivotally connected to each other, buoys for, supporting: said! network sections in the water, means forsuspending the said network sections and buoys fronrthe ship in spaced relation thereto, instrumentalities for releasably and readily removablylocking the: said suspension means in place on the ship hull, each network section comprising; vertical rodsupon which the buoys are rotatably mounted, hinges carried at the-top of; said rods, an'end, member connected to. each hinge, a horizontal,

rod rotatably mounted in the said end members, pivotally connected, horizontal and vertical rows of links connected to thehorizontal and vertical rods, the said vertical rods extending a considerable distance below the bottom row of links, anda weight at the ends of the said rods for the purpose specified.

1 1'. Aninterceptor for protecting ships from being struck by torpedoes, said interceptor comprising metallic network sections pivotally connected to each other, buoys for supporting said network sections in the water, means for suspending the said network sections and buoys from the ship in spaced relation thereto, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of spaced apart rails secured to the ship hull, a plate supported between each pair of said rails, a shock absorber mechanism carried by the plate, a pivotally mounted casing in operative engagement with the shock absorber mechanism, a contractible and expansible arm pivotally mounted on the casing at one end andhingedly connected at. the opposite endthereof to a network section, each network section comprising vertical rods upon which the buoys are rotatably mounted, hinges carried at the top of said rods, an end member connected to each hinge, a horizontal rod rotatably mounted in the said end members, pivotally connected horizontal and vertical rows of links connected to the horizontal and vertical rods, and instrumentalities for releasably and readily removably locking the said suspension means in place on the ship hull.

12. An interceptor for protecting ships from being struck by torpedoes, said interceptor comprising metallic network sections pivotally con- ,nected to each other, buoys for supporting said network sections in the water, means for suspending thesaid network sections and buoys from the ship in spacedrelation thereto, said means comprising a plurality ofpairs of spaced apart rails secured to the ship hull, a plate supported between each pair of said rails, a shock absorber mechanism carried by the plate, a pivotally mountedcasing in operative engagement with the shock absorber mechanism, a contractible and expansible arm pivotally mounted on the casing at oneend and hingedly connected at the opposite end thereof to a network section, each network section comprising vertical rods upon which the buoys are rotatably mounted, hinges carried at the top ofsaid rods, an end member connected to each hinge, a horizontal rod rotatably mounted in the said end members, pivotally 1 connected horizontal and vertical rows of links connected to the horizontal and vertical rods,.

and instrumentalities for releasably and readily removably locking the said suspension means in place on the ship hull, the said vertical rods extending a considerable distance below the bottom row of. links, and a weight at the ends'of the said rods for the purpose specified.

JACOB HAU'I. 

